SGRed's Posts and Other Poster's Replies To SGRed's Posts

27 May 2018 13:36:43
Absolutely gutted for the boys - not for the result but for the manner of it. I was really hoping for some beautiful attacking play worthy of our run to the final, but while the first 30mins promised much, the way Salah was dragged down and injured, and the way we played so poorly after he left, and watching Karius crumble on the big stage was devastating.

I sincerely hope the whole team can pick themselves up from this, as we seem to be on the brink of something truly special. The biggest disaster of all would be if we let something like this impact the momentum going into next season.

Now for some home truths

- I've always felt the gap between our front three and the rest was ridiculously big. So it proved last night, not just in talent but also in style. Our game relies on Firmino dropping deeper to act as playmaker and to create space, with a pair of wide attackers able to use their pace and movement to take advantage, get into the box and score. We clearly don't have anyone else in the squad able to do that apart from Mane and Salah, and with only one of them on the pitch the opposition can shut us down all to easily. We need a top top wide attacking forward in the transfer window to allow us to remain a threat if any of the front three are injured/ need a rest. It's critical. RM must have been laughing when we took off Salah and brought on Lallana. They knew we wouldn't be nearly as dangerous.

- I've been proud of Gini and Milner individually this season, they've given everything, but it is also clear that they both need the front three to click or we look toothless. Without Mane, Salah and Firmino on fire, our midfield is exposed for what it is - workmanlike. We need someone able to pick the game up and create danger if the front three are struggling, and hopefully Keita is that player. Kroos and Modric schooled us once Salah went off and we can't let that happen again.

- GK. I've been one of Karius's backers, mostly because Mig's was clearly not the answer, but I think Karius will take time to get over this, and the team will need time to trust him again. I think it's critical after the final that we go all out for the best GK we can get to start next season. Karius may come back, and I hope for his own sake he grows to live this down and succeeds in the long run, but unfortunately we can't go into next season with him as our no.1, there's too much at stake

- Finally, I think Klopp missed a trick. It was clear going into half time we were struggling with Lallana out wide. I think he needed to shake it up and put Ings or Solanke on earlier and dropped Firmino into the 10, with Lallana in midfield. We should have realised we lacked any threat, trusted our FB's to push up to create the width and pace instead and really gone for them but that's always easy to say in hindsight.

I hope above all we get over this performance and learn, continue to grow and strengthen the squad. We've had some incredible memories from this season and we can do better still if we don't let this get to us.

YNWA lads. Thanks for a wonderful season and here's to the next.

SGRed

1.) 27 May 2018 14:53:04
ings wasnt on the bench so you can expect klopp to put him on really can ya.

2.) 27 May 2018 16:55:41
I don't have qualms with lallan being brought on, throwing an inexperienced player into a game like that would be hard. I think we should have matched their diamond and played firmino and mane up top. We know they'll roam around anyway.

4.) 27 May 2018 18:17:24
Win as a team, lose as a team. Don't care what the results is they are my team and I am proud they made it to the final. "If you can't support us when we lose or draw, don't support us when we win. ". -Bill Shankly.

5.) 28 May 2018 01:07:30
My bad - of course Ings wasn’t an option, i guess the point was, we didn’t have another wide forward that Klopp could replace Salah with, we were forced to changed our system and we went from being on top to being under pressure the rest of the match.

6.) 28 May 2018 07:10:17
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Reality is Klopp watches his players daily and is in a better position to judge. We lost, we will recover and hopefully use this as a great catalyst to go again. Onwards and upwards.

8.) 28 May 2018 10:08:10
Woodburn should've been given a spot on the bench and would've been a better option than Lallana. He's the kind of player who can come off the bench and produce a bit of magic, like on his Wales debut for example. The fact we had 3 defenders and 2 midfielders on the bench certainly didn't help. I still don't think Klopp did all he could've to get back into the game, waiting until the 83rd minute and then bringing on Can was pretty pointless. If you need a goal, bring on a striker for dog's sake. Or even Moreno could've had more of an impact, and of the options that were on the bench I'd actually have brought him on to play inside-left instead of Lallana.

10.) 28 May 2018 15:19:41
Yeah SGRed that would've been worth a shot as well, and of course hindsight is 20/ 20 but my main point is that Klopp did nothing at all. Seemed like he was as stunned as the players were by the combination of the three shocking moments, but that is exactly when you need a manager with a cool head to put any kind of plan in place to try and save the game. Don't get me wrong, I love Klopp, but it's a definite weakness of his.

First of all, Ings should've been on that bench as the most like-for-like for the front 3. Of course, not in quality but at least in mobility and versatility. He would've been my choice when Salah webt off injured. We needed to keep the width and stretch them.

Even when we went 2-1 down I would've brought Clyne on at RB and pushed TAA forward. Take Milner off as his legs were done and slot Lallana in the middle. Lallana always struggles playing wide.

16 Jan 2019 14:45:42
Isn't it funny how a few weeks ago Fabinho was playing and everyone was speculating how he didn't fit, wasn't adapting, wasn't happy etc. and now suddenly he's a vital cog in the side?

I have a feeling Keita might do exactly the same thing to us later in the season.

SGRed

1.) 16 Jan 2019 15:05:31
So true, SGRed. I hope Keita starts to fire now. I thought he was really good against Burley. It is about being more consistent now. We all want him to click.

4.) 16 Jan 2019 18:24:49
Fab being poor at Arsenal can happened cos it was a very intense game with lots of energy and for someone still getting used to the pace and intensity of the PL in a very high-profile game away from home, it was normal if he struggled. People saying he was awful is actually the problem. He was NOT awful. He struggled and mind you, he was not the only one who did. Cos someone struggled does not mean they are awful. It is using extreme language to describe normal things, that is the issue here, IMO. We need to have more faith with new players who arrive and give them the time to bed-in. Even Salah struggled for a while when he first arrived. so did Ox and Robbo BUT clearly, people have forgotten about all that.

Same for Keita. he is struggling to come to grips with the team and a very complicated system that Klopp deploys BUT at least vs Burnley (esp. where he bossed the whole Burnley team on his own), WH, Palace n Spurs, we have seen what he can do and what we can look forward to. I know patience is no longer a virtue amongst the FIFA Manager generation of today BUT is is STILL a virtue.

10.) 16 Jan 2019 23:26:36
Agree Dezy, let him play the more attacking of the midfield three against the likes of Bayern will be perfect for him IMO. More of an Ox type player, good at carrying the ball forward but also with the engine to break down their play and get back in defence.

03 Jan 2019 13:27:37
Good luck today lads - it's a great day to be a Liverpool supporter! We have a wonderful opportunity to stamp our mark on the season, but even a loss won't kill us so let's go and enjoy it.

SGRed

1.) 03 Jan 2019 14:41:13
I have to agree SGRed, if we lose, it is not the end of the world. We would still be 4 points ahead of them which is still good at this point in the season.

{Ed025's Note - if you win tonight redhof then you can bet that adele will be in full voice mate..

5.) 03 Jan 2019 16:41:14
I agree with ed25, if we win it could be over. 10 points clear of City and 9 of Spurs. We need to lose 4 games and City not to lose any to get past us, something I don't see happening, we may drop points and we may lose games but do any of us see us losing 4? About Spurs be honest, they don't have the depth to challange untill the end.

8.) 03 Jan 2019 19:10:20
Regardless of the result tonight, NOTHING will be decided as there are too many games left hence, too many obstacles and pitfalls to navigate. Let's just give it a really good go, give it our all and have NO regrets when all is said and done after 95mins. YNWA!

12 Dec 2018 02:17:35
Immense from the lads last night but in particular Alisson. The front three look to be clicking again, and it feels like we may be gradually adjusting to the new more balanced system and are building a head of steam rather than having to scramble for results a little like we were a few weeks ago (even if we did so very effectively! ) .

It's coming together boys, let's hope we teach Man Utd a lesson this weekend and go into the Man City game in the new year with a lead to protect.

SGRed

{Ed0333's Note - let’s also pray we have a defense come Saturday. Hope TAA and Matip are ok.

1.) 12 Dec 2018 03:23:55
Agree mate, our defence has been immense but I wouldn’t mind if we ended up with Robbo, VVD, Lovren and Milner at the back worst case. We have some real depth now and can still play Hendo, Keita and Gini/ Shaqiri in midfield!

{Ed0333's Note - Agreed Robbo, Lovren, VVD and Milner would have to be the minimum tho mate, that’s if TAA and Matip are indeed injured. I must admit I’ve been quietly impressed with Matip lately. He’s got a mistake or two in him but he does seem to play well with VVD beside him. I know most don’t want to see Fab at right back but if he’s good enough for his national side there I’m sure he could do a job for us there if need be. I have a feeling Keita & Fab will play Sunday.

2.) 12 Dec 2018 04:03:26
Good shout - you know Mourinho will stick Fellaini in to win those long balls at some point and Fabinho will be useful.

{Ed0333's Note - I thought Fab was fab for the cameo he had against Napoli. Ironically he nearly cost us the game as it was his mistake that Becker had to make that superlative save at the end from. I’m on such a high and so enamoured by my football club right now I don’t even care if Adam Lalana plays on Sunday mate.

3.) 12 Dec 2018 06:20:50
I think we need Lovren more than Matip specifically against Man Utd courtesy of a certain Mr Fellaini. Lovren's better against physical brutes like Lukaku and Fellaini.
TAA, Robbo, VVD and LOvren imo against Man Utd is the bare minimum we need coz they are a team that always seem to have a plan that works against us in recent years.

4.) 13 Dec 2018 00:07:15
Cap in hand I wanted to see lovren start over matip. However, matip was solid and it was no surprise that it was lovren marking at the back post when they almost snatched the point they needed. When he plays with confidence he can be a beast, but he looked nervous when he came on. Bugger that VVD will miss the first leg, he's arguably our most valuable player, imo.

- first of all, hats off to PSG for that first 20mins, they came out harder and faster than us and we were truly rattled
- Verratti in particular was immense, and as much as I love Hendo and think our midfield is decent, the difference between the two was pretty stark in the first half as we were way too slow on the ball while their movement and passing was sharp
- what's happened to the pressing and turnovers in midfield that led to our front three playing such devastating counterattacking football last season? . this new more conservative approach seems to be working against the lower sides in the PL OK, but we're struggling to create chances against the better teams this season
- instead, we were left too often having to build up through the wide channels and our front three isn't moving or connecting as fluidly as they did last year
- As much as I love Gomez, I felt this was a game for Trent at RB. Gomez should have played CB even if Lovren was decent enough. They just seemed to confuse each other at times

Still a good shot at Napoli and it's no disgrace to lose 2-1 at PSG after that first 20mins, but it does feel we're missing something in the midfield to allow us to really release the forwards early into space. almost no decent through balls on the ground last night.

SGRed

1.) 29 Nov 2018 06:48:19
I felt Klopp got his team wrong. I think this team was selected keeping the derby in mind, and ofcouse as fans hindsight is a wonderful thing for us and we have that advantage to question a manager after a game. But i think klopp could have done better in his team selection. Few question for me are:
1) He put in a slower defender (lovren opposed to gomez) and slower RB (gomez opposed to TAA) against a team that is probably the among the fastest in europe.
2) He played a three man midfield against there 5 (neymar di maria dropping) which was a mismatch in first 20 minutes.
3) Van djik didn't have the best game.
4) the front were three switched in first half. I don't know why he had firmino playing upfront when he would have helped immensely drawing verrati out of position if he was a bit deeper. he has been in that role much of the season and doing so well. why change?
5) Substitutions were very late shaq and studger came in after 70 mins. not enough time to impact?
6) No start for fabinho. why?

5.) 29 Nov 2018 10:10:05
I would agree Longthing76 - I couldn't at all justify saying 'the ref cost us the game' but could 100% say 'he kept PSG in it'.

What I find hard to take is the constant play acting of their players. I don't think I've seen it that bad from any other club. I've tried to watch games involving PSG in the past and I just can't do it and don't know how any true football fan could put up with supporting their antics.

I know people say 'it's part of the game nowadays', but they are next level ridiculous with it all.

By no means am I excusing our performance as I think we were architects of our own downfall as both goals were actually quite soft in my opinion. I'll take it being in our own hands going into the last game at Anfield though.

7.) 29 Nov 2018 10:33:38
We by no means deserved to win last night, I thought the midfield were awful, front 3 did not click at all.
Have to say the ref really was dire and that neymar really is a loathsome little p###k. How on earth he doesn't get pulled up on his theatrics is beyond me.

8.) 29 Nov 2018 10:51:03
We were very poor but the ref was even poorer and in all honesty I don't understand how their players were not given cards for play acting. I hope we pull it out of the bag against Napoli but I'm not convinced we will as our tactics in Europe this year are pretty poor. That said, I'd be happy if the lads made me eat humble pie.

9.) 29 Nov 2018 11:18:55
I agree, we wernt good enough, but that whole team is a disgrace for the way they go down at the slightest touch. even Tiago silver who had an immense game went down under the slightest touch. disgusting and not nice to watch from any team.

10.) 29 Nov 2018 14:33:21
I agree their behaviour was disappointing, if not downright despicable, but frankly speaking many of the best sides in Europe are similar, and they use their skill to half beat the player and then theatrics on every foul to make the opposition think twice about lunging in again. It buys them the space they need to play the way they did.

I’m not saying we should join them, but we can’t be that naive as to think they will change, and neither should we ignore the fact that a lot of those fouls were because they were a half yard faster and a little bit slicker in the first place.

Our one-twos and through balls were dreadful most of the time but PSG were sharp last night. We deserved to lose and need to up our game in midfield and become more fluid again upfront if we’re going to beat sides like PSG in Europe.

We have the tools, if really like to see them unleashed a bit against Napoli.

11.) 29 Nov 2018 19:43:45
IMO, we just did not match their intensity and energy and that is becoming a worry whenever we go on the road in Europe this season. This has happened in all 3 of our CL road games this season. We allowed PSG to do whatever they wanted to us and we did not match them step for step in those first 20 mis. I'm sorry BUT you ain't winning a CL game on the road vs a powerhouse like PSG playing one half of "meh" football with NO shots in open play for 90 mins and I don't care who you play against.

08 Oct 2018 04:33:52
The team looks a little tired. think the break has come at the right time for us this time around. Our front three hasn't been clicking as well as usual, with 2 goals in 4 games and limited chances compared to our normal blistering attack.

The good news is we're still top, despite not being on best form, and after a tough run including Chelsea, Tottenham and City. We have a few fixtures now which hopefully can see us build a bit of momentum provided our front 3 starts to click and score goals soon.

Just a side note that our defense has been fantastic. provided we can sort out scoring goals again we'll be there or there abouts.

SGRed

1.) 08 Oct 2018 11:27:24
SGRed, you forgot to add PSG and Napoli to that list as well BUT spot on with your comment.

2.) 08 Oct 2018 15:27:48
Our front three won’t score unless our midfield support them! The best we played this season was against saints in the first half with 4 attackers in the side.
Klopp need to explain why he signed Shaqiri!

3.) 08 Oct 2018 15:28:32
Leroy Sane has to be the most fearsome substitute in the Premier League.
I thought Alisson’s aura may have intimidated Mahrez too, he went for a blockbuster into the top corner.
I’ll take a point after that.
Fernandinho should have had a red though.

4.) 08 Oct 2018 19:30:17
Spot on, Juicer. How Fernandinho is able to finish games (he does this all the time) in the PL, I have NO idea if you consider the elbows he keeps throwing at players and his counter-breaking fouls.

As for Mahrez and Allison, I would be intimidated too cos Allison is a man-mountain.

18 Feb 2019 14:45:22
I hope he stays too - what a model professional and he can cover midfield, right and left back. Tough to find anyone else who can do that.

As a bonus, he'd allow us to bring Adam Lewis into the fold in place of Moreno, knowing if we have an injury to Robbo at any point, Milner can step in for the biggest games where we may need an experienced head.

18 Jan 2019 10:56:45
I can only potentially see us going for a fullback if someone good unexpectedly became available (to replace Clyne), or perhaps an outside chance of a forward (but again only if some really special became available, and also Sturridge or Origi were to leave) .

On balance I suspect neither will happen and we will continue with our current squad which is just fine by me.

19 Feb 2019 02:34:01
I’m happy to see you post 007 so no criticism, but the highlights no. 2, 3 and 4 on LFCTV 90 sec summary of the game all were of the GK making saves. They must have read your comment and wanted to make sure he didn’t feel under appreciated 😂.

18 Feb 2019 01:52:28
There are only so many juniors you can integrate into a squad competing for top honours - my picks would be

- Sturridge to be replaced by a top competitive forward, and Origi to be sold, with Brewster to step up (1 junior)
- Lallana to move on and Harry Wilson to step up (2 juniors) . Ox will be a big boost coming back and we still have Hendo, Gini, Fabinho, Milner, Shaqiri and Keita so I think we’re good in midfield
- Replace either Lovren or Matip with a top CB to compete with VVD and Gomez. Nat Philips can play in cup games and be our crisis fallback option (three juniors) .
- We need to top fullback to back up able to play both sides of the pitch to compete with Trent and Robbo and be able to push them for a starting position. Move on Moreno to create the space and then let Adam Lewis step up as backup for non critical games (four juniors) .

And letting 4 juniors fill the gaps left by Origi, Lallana, Clyne and an extra CB, with none of them needing to be thrown in the deep end because we’ll have senior players backing up every position barring an injury crisis.